Resolutions

In addition to advocating on behalf of disadvantaged children and young people, every two years VIEW members vote on one or more issues of importance that will be the focus of advocacy and lobbying work for the coming years. These are called resolutions.

The VIEW National Resolution process is the voice of the organisation. Through this, members are able to collectively identify and articulate issues that are considered important for influencing social change in Australia. Many VIEW resolutions have been successful in fostering legislative changes for the betterment of Australian society.

Resolutions provide a platform to not only promote issues of importance, but also the work of VIEW Clubs and The Smith Family, in supporting the education of disadvantaged children and helping to break the cycle of disadvantage.

Resolutions focused in this way, and reflecting the aims of VIEW and The Smith Family, help to promote and raise awareness of VIEW among the public and communicate key VIEW messages to prospective members.

2015 Resolutions

Reduce the incidence of domestic violence and create a centralised database for victims

VIEW Clubs of Australia urge that more funding be made available to create a centralised data distribution centre and find more effective ways to combat the incidence of domestic and family violence. If domestic violence is going to be treated with the seriousness it deserves it needs to be treated as a whole of Government issue.

One in five women are abused; 70 women in Australia are killed each year due to domestic violence. Women must be supported to say "No" and to speak out when it occurs. Children must be nurtured to be confident to tell the right people. Perpetrators must be compulsorily educated to realise the value of a loving, caring family. Much time is wasted and often information not passed on in time, for the prevention of violence by perpetrators who have existing intervention orders in place or are on parole for similar acts of violence.

Uptake of education for Aboriginal girls

VIEW Clubs of Australia calls State and Federal Governments to look at improving Aboriginal uptake of education with particular emphasis for Aboriginal girls to assist in closing the gap in educational performance between Aboriginal and other Australian young people.

There is a need to narrow the gap in educational outcomes for Aboriginal girls in relation to other young Australian girls. Young women are able to influence communities and need to be set up for success to enable them to contribute to breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

The regulation of sugar content in processed food.

VIEW Clubs of Australia calls on State and Federal Government to recognise the health impact of high sugar content in processed foods and to regulate the "added sugar" content of these products.

There is substantial evidence that Type II Diabetes is increasing among children and adolescents. Lower sugar content would assist in reducing this crisis. Added sugar can be disguised in the list of ingredients and food manufacturers are not required to distinguish between natural and added sugars on labels. Our daily sugar and calorie intake exceeds recommended levels, and places the general population at risk of a range of diseases including diabetes, obesity, liver and heart disease. If sugar content is regulated to acceptable levels it would create an even playing field for all manufacturers, contribute to addressing the obesity problem and be instrumental in improving the general health and wellbeing of Australians.

Childhood obesity

VIEW Clubs of Australia urge the Federal Government to address the problem of obesity, particularly among young children, through a comprehensive national education strategy which focuses on a back-to-basics practical approach.

A healthy population is a healthy nation. This is especially relevant for our children who are our future. Education about the relationship between healthy eating habits and sensible exercise is very important, especially where children are disadvantaged by the prohibitive cost of organised sport and where they have fewer role models of what constitutes healthy eating. The cost of obesity crosses a wide range of medical spectrums, mental as well as physical. A program could be implemented in schools to teach children the basics of good eating, sensible exercise and growing their own food. Each day could start with a simple set of exercises, and a physical education class would be mandatory for every student. Health and nutrition could be incorporated into a wide range of subjects.